On behalf of the Arab Group to the UN, the UAE yesterday urged the major international powers to respond to the Arab Ministerial Committee's efforts to end the Israeli occupation, and safeguard the launch of serious and significant negotiations. The UAE also wished that the Security Council would respond to the Arab Group's initiatives which call for the issuance of an effective decision which would contribute to saving peace process on the basis of its relevant resolutions, the Madrid Principles and the Arab Peace Initiative. This came in a statement delivered by Saud Hamad Al Shamsi, Acting charge d'affaires of UAE permanent mission to the UN, on behalf of the Arab Group to the UN during the general and ordinary discussions at the UN Security Council on the latest developments in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Issue. The session was chaired by the Foreign Minister of New Zealand, Murray McCully. In his statement, Al Shamsi warned of the consequences of worsening humanitarian conditions of the Palestinian people resulting from Israeli atrocities and its violations of international laws and norms, as that was the direct cause of the continuation of undermining peace talks. He said, "In spite of all the tireless efforts and international and regional initiatives exerted over the past two decades, the region is still experiencing failure and loss of peace opportunities." He pointed out that this failure prolongs the suffering of the Palestinian people, doubles its human and material losses and deepens despair and instability, as well as extremism and serious threats which affect the region and the world. He called for the need to find a prompt solution to the Palestinian Issue, condemning the illegal and continuous violations committed by Israel to expand its illegal settlements inside the Palestinian territories, including Jerusalem. He pointed out the hardships faced by the Palestinians, their forced displacement and confiscation of their land and properties as well as demolition of homes and buildings, citing that Israel has tried to arbitrary transfer 7000 Palestinian Bedouins and herders in 64 residential areas in West Bank. Al Shamsi also denounced the continuous Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip, and last year's war which resulted in death and injury of thousands, complete and deliberate destruction of infrastructure including the UN facilities that make up the lifeline for the people of the Gaza. In the same context, he welcomed the recent report issued by Commission of Inquiry to investigate purported violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, particularly in the Gaza Strip, which showed the unprecedented sufferings experienced by the unarmed Palestinian people, stressing the importance of ensuring the implementation of the accountability system and brining those responsible for committing war crimes to justice. He also called on donor countries to fulfill its pledges made at the Cairo conference last year to safeguard completion of financing the reconstruction of Gaza projects, underscoring the common responsibility laid on the international community to work towards totally lifting of Israeli siege imposed on Gaza, as well as providing the necessary support for the efforts and programmes of the United Nations, especially UNRWA. He also brought to attention the Arab Group's supportive stance to the Palestinian national reconciliation, and urged the international community to strengthen its support for Palestinian government to enable it to impose full control over the Gaza Strip, and all its border crossings as well as support of the ongoing efforts to achieve Palestinian reconciliation. He noted,"The Arab Group believes that the continuation of this historical injustice by Israel on the Palestinian people is one of the main causes of the current erosion of peace and stability in the region, as well as one of the causes of fueling tensions and hatred, exclusion and extremism in some of our countries which may have serious repercussions in the future on the region and the world." Al Shamsi called on the Security Council to take all the necessary steps to ensure Israel's immediate cessation of all violations of principles and conditions of the existing peace process based on ending the occupation, reaching on a two-state solution as well as providing appropriate measures and environment to ensure the return of peace negotiations. Regarding the situation in Syria, he expressed regret of the Arab Group for the continuation of the Syrian crisis for the fifth consecutive year and targeting of civilians by the Syrian forces, who should take the responsibility to protect them, or by the terrorist and extremism groups that violate all humanitarian, religious and International norms and principles such as Da'esh. He also reiterated his support for all efforts which are aimed to provide political solution for the Syrian crisis, especially efforts exerted by Staffan de Mistura, UN Special Envoy for Syria, in accordance with the results of the Geneva Conference and leading to meet the aspirations of the Syrian people in achieving political transition and democratic participation of all national Syrian parties, without exception, and accomplishing transitional justice as well as restoring stability and security to Syria.
